Lids Careers | Opportunities in Retail & Sports Merchandise

From sports fans to streetwear enthusiasts, a lot of people recognise Lids for its signature caps and athletic gear, but not everyone realises that Lids Careers open the door to flexible jobs in a fast-paced and highly visual retail space. With locations across shopping malls, outlets, and stadiums, the company is always looking for people who can connect with customers, understand brand culture, and help keep the energy going on the floor. Whether you’re interested in working part-time during school or looking for a long-term path in retail, the company offers a wide range of entry-level and corporate positions.

This guide gives you the full breakdown, from available job types and who’s eligible to how the hiring process works and what kind of experiences current employees can expect. Whether you’ve searched for jobs nearby, want to explore corporate roles, or have been wondering if you can apply at 16, you’ll find everything covered in one place. With remote opportunities, in-store roles, and growth paths that support career development, applying here could be your next move.

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Lids Careers | Sports Apparel and Store Management Roles

Lids – Overview of the Company

Lids began its journey in 1995, quickly building a reputation for offering a massive variety of headwear with styles tailored to sports teams, fashion brands, and everyday wearers. From its first retail store to now operating in over a thousand locations across North America and beyond, the brand has become one of the most recognized names in licensed sports merchandise. Known for more than just hats, it also offers apparel, team gear, custom embroidery, and collectibles that appeal to a wide audience.

Today, Lids runs stores throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe, along with a strong online presence through its official website and partner retailers. Many stores are based in malls or outlet centers, giving the company consistent foot traffic and visibility. It also operates under related banners such as Lids Locker Room, expanding its reach with even more team gear and apparel options. Backed by a large parent company, the business has the scale to offer remote positions, internships, and corporate roles while still focusing on the high-energy retail environment it’s best known for.

Types of Jobs 

Lids offers a range of roles that combine the fast pace of retail with the energy of sports, fashion, and lifestyle branding. Let’s review a few of them below.

Sales Floor & In-Store Support

Front-of-house roles are what most shoppers see when they walk into a store. These employees are responsible for delivering the first impression, helping customers with products, and maintaining the visual setup of the store.

• Sales Associate
  Sales associates work on the retail floor, helping customers find the right size, team, or style. They restock hats, arrange displays, and process purchases while also explaining current promotions.
• Cashier
  This position focuses on checkout but goes beyond just scanning tags. Cashiers are expected to be quick and accurate, promote the store’s loyalty programs, and manage returns or exchanges politely and efficiently.
• Visual Merchandising Assistant
  Visual assistants play a creative role in the store. They help install marketing materials, rearrange wall displays, and keep product presentations clean and appealing.

Store Leadership

Leadership positions are designed for people who enjoy coaching others, staying organized, and keeping track of store targets. These team members act as guides on the floor and behind the scenes.

• Key Holder
  Key holders are often experienced team members who take on opening and closing responsibilities, oversee shift changeovers, and support junior employees.
• Assistant Store Manager
  The assistant manager supports all operational aspects of the store. From inventory audits to employee training and sales goal tracking, they’re involved in both day-to-day tasks and longer-term planning.
• Store Manager
  Store managers are in charge of everything from hiring to scheduling, payroll oversight, and driving store performance. They work closely with district managers to meet business goals.

Mall & Event-Based Roles

Lids doesn’t just operate in traditional storefronts. It also runs event-based retail locations that need staff trained to work in fast, high-energy settings.

• Stadium Retail Associate
  At sports venues and arenas, these team members help fans pick up merchandise before, during, and after the game. They deal with rushes, restocking, and crowd management.
• Seasonal Sales Assistant
  During the holidays or peak sales seasons, Lids brings in seasonal support to help with stocking, gift sales, and organising displays.
• Pop-Up Retail Coordinator
  For short-term stores and limited-edition merchandise releases, pop-up coordinators help set up locations, manage customer lines, and keep merchandise secure.

Lids Locker Room Roles

Lids Locker Room stores combine traditional hat sales with clothing and team gear, requiring a slightly broader retail skill set and knowledge of product categories beyond headwear.

• Apparel Specialist
  Apparel team members manage the clothing sections, keep sizes in order, and help customers select team gear like jerseys, hoodies, and shorts. They maintain fitting areas and answer customer questions.
• Footwear Sales Assistant
  Some Locker Room stores carry branded sneakers and lifestyle shoes. These employees help customers try on pairs, explain sizing, and restock shoe displays.
• Custom Embroidery Clerk
  One of the unique services offered at Lids is in-store embroidery. These clerks operate machines that add names, numbers, or logos to hats and apparel.

Corporate Office Positions

The company’s headquarters offers jobs in marketing, HR, IT, and finance, which is ideal for professionals who want to work behind the scenes in strategy, operations, and planning.

• Merchandise Planner
  Planners analyze sales trends, suggest inventory orders, and decide which products should go to specific stores. They balance sales goals with inventory management and often collaborate with marketing teams.
• Talent Acquisition Coordinator
  This role supports the recruitment process by posting job ads, screening applications, and arranging interviews. It also includes tracking recruitment metrics and working with store managers to meet hiring needs.
• Brand Marketing Assistant
  Marketing assistants help promote store launches, product drops, and partnerships. They write content, schedule social posts, and support campaign planning to strengthen the brand’s online and in-store presence.

Warehouse and Distribution

Behind every product on the shelf is a logistics team that helps it get there on time. These roles are more physical but play a major role in retail success.

• Warehouse Picker
  Pickers move quickly through aisles to find the right merchandise, pack orders, and prepare shipments for delivery to stores or customers.
• Inventory Receiver
  These team members check new shipments as they come in, verify order sheets, and report any missing or damaged goods. They help keep warehouse operations on schedule.
• Returns Specialist
  Returns specialists inspect returned items, issue refunds or credits, and reprocess stock that can be returned to shelves. They work closely with customer service and inventory departments.

Internships & Entry-Level Office Roles

Lids gives early-career professionals a chance to learn the ropes while contributing to real projects across different departments.

• Retail Intern
  Retail interns rotate between departments and assist with training, merchandising, and team communication.
• Marketing Intern
  These interns work on brainstorming sessions, competitive research, and content creation. They support email marketing, social media, and branding projects.
• Customer Experience Representative
  This role helps with phone calls and online inquiries. It involves troubleshooting orders, responding to feedback, and working with logistics and store teams.

Benefits & Salary

Lids may not promise luxury perks, but it offers what matters. Fair pay, flexible shifts, and a store discount that’s genuinely useful if you’re into the products. Full-time team members unlock even more with structured benefits, paid time off, and healthcare options. Here’s what most employees can expect:

• Discounted pricing on hats, gear, and customized embroidery
• Access to healthcare plans for eligible full-time roles
• Paid time off and holiday coverage for long-term team members
• 401(k) and savings plan options
• Flexible hours, with shift swaps allowed in most stores
• Opportunities for internal advancement into leadership

In terms of average pay:

• Sales associates typically earn between $11 and $14 per hour
• Cashiers often fall in the $10 to $13 range
• Custom embroidery clerks can earn $13 to $16, depending on location
• Assistant managers usually start at around $37,000 per year
• Store managers average between $48,000 and $62,000 annually
• Warehouse or back-end roles range from $15 to $18 per hour

Eligibility Criteria

Before applying for a position at Lids, it’s helpful to understand the basic requirements that apply to most roles. While many jobs at the store level are open to first-time applicants, the company still looks for certain traits and qualifications to ensure a strong team.

Minimum Age Requirement

The standard minimum hiring age for most Lids store positions is 16. This allows high school students and other young workers to apply for roles such as sales associates or cashiers. For leadership roles or jobs involving opening and closing duties, the age requirement may increase to 18.

Education Requirements

Most entry-level roles do not require a diploma or a degree. While a high school diploma or equivalent is preferred, it’s not mandatory for retail floor positions. Corporate positions, internships, and roles involving finance, IT, or marketing often require formal education or field-specific experience.

Work Authorization

All applicants must be legally authorised to work in the United States or Canada, depending on the location. As part of the onboarding process, new hires are required to provide documentation that confirms their identity and work eligibility.

Background Checks and Screening

Depending on the role, Lids may run background checks before finalising a job offer. All background screenings follow local legal guidelines, and having a record does not automatically disqualify a candidate. Being honest on your application and during interviews is always encouraged.

Application Process for Lids Careers

The application process for Lids Careers is designed to be clear and flexible. Most people can complete the steps in under 20 minutes, and everything is submitted on the official careers site.

1. The process begins on the Apply Here, where you can browse available jobs by category, location, or department.
2. You can also find listings on LinkedIn and Indeed.
3. To apply, you’ll need to create a basic account with your email and a password.
4. Enter your full name and contact details
5. Choose your preferred store, department, or position
6. Upload a resume if available, or add your experience manually
7. Once your form is complete, review it to make sure there are no errors.
8. You’ll see a submit button at the bottom, and once clicked, your application goes straight to the store or department you selected.
9. You will receive an email confirming that your application was submitted
10. If your application is a good match, a manager or recruiter will contact you to set up an interview.

Apply Here

Summary

Lids creates a retail environment that blends energy, creativity, and opportunity. With roles available at all experience levels, from first-time part-timers to full-time leaders and corporate support, the company keeps its hiring process easy to follow and its expectations clear. Whether you’re working on the floor, managing a store, or building your career behind the scenes, Lids offers flexible scheduling, real growth potential, and a work culture that values action over talk. For anyone looking to get in, get trained, and get moving, this guide covers everything you need to start strong.

FAQs